Electric switch



Jan. 3, 1939.

G. R. BROWN ELECTRIC- SWITCH Filed Opt. 16, 1937 Inventor: George R. Bown,

6. J Attorney.

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 ELECTRIC SWITCH George R. Brown, Stratford, Conn.,assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication October 16, 1937, Serial No. 169,497

14 Claims. 200152) The present invention relates to electric switches ofthe type having a liquid contact circuit closer for controlling thecircuit through the switch.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement in electric switches of this type, and for a considerationof what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed tothe following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a switchembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional top plan view of theswitch; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch; Fig. 4 is an end viewof the switch handle; and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the liquidcontact circuit closer used in the switch.

Referring to Fig. 5, the circuit closer comprises an envelope Icontaining a limited quantity of mercury 2. The major portion of theenvelope comprises opposed cup-shaped metal terminals 3 and 3*. Betweenthe terminals is a diaphragm 4 of insulating material, for example, aceramic, having an opening 5 therein through which the mercury flows tocomplete the circuit between the terminals. When the circuit closer isin the position illustrated, the circuit between the terminals iscompleted. When the circuit closer is rotated about the axis of theterminals a few degrees from the position illustrated, the opening 5 israised clear of the mercury and the circuit between the terminals isbroken by separation of the mercury in the opening 5 as it flows fromeach end thereof. In this latter position the diaphragm separates themercury into two pools and insulates the terminals from each other. Whenthe circuit closer is returned to the position illustrated, the circuitbetween the terminals is completed by the joining of mercury flowinginto the opening 5 from each end thereof. The terminals 3 and 3 areprovided with outwardly extending flanges l and 1 which fit in annulargrooves 8 around the rim of the diaphragm. The diaphragm and terminalsare sealed by a head or fillet 9 of glass which is fused to the flangesI and l and to the outer periphery of the diaphragm. The above describedconstruction is that shown in Payne Patent No. 2,101,092. g

The circuit closed is mounted within a housing I0 of suitable moldedinsulating material which is closed at its lower end and which has ametal cover plate H at its upper end. The cover plate is provided withears l2 which are bent around projections l3 on the housing to securethe cover against the inner surface of the cover plate 10 In theenlarged portion I8 is a recess I9 in which fits the terminal 3 of thecircuit closer. The recess is provided with a projection 20 which fitsin a complementary depression 2| in the circuit closer terminal andprevents rotation of the circuit closer relative to the handle. Betweenthe inner end of the enlarged portion I8 and the flange 1 of theterminal 3 is a contact ring 22 having a cylindrical flange 23 whichbears on the cylindrical surface of the terminal and outwardly extendingflange 24 which bears against the flange l of the terminal. The contactring has a tab 25 which slidably fits in a groove 26 in the housing andprevents rotation of the contact ring relative to the housing. Thebottom wall of 25 the groove 26 is cut away to provide an opening 21through which extends a conductor 28 suitably connected to the tab 25.On the other circuit closer terminal 3 is another contact ring 29 of thesame construction as the contact ring 22. 30

It has a cylindrical flange 30 bearing on the terminal, an outwardlyextending flange 3| bearing against the flange 1 of the terminal and atab 32 slidable in a groove 33 in the housing.

The bottom wall of the groove 33 is cut away to 5 provide an opening 34through which extends a conductor 35 connected to the tab 32. The edgesof flanges 24 and 3| slidably engage the housing and therefore assist insupporting the circuit closer therein. The tabs 25 and 32 preventrotation of the contacts 23 and 30 in the housing. Between the flange 3|of the contact ring 29 and the bottom of the housing I0 is a helicalcompression spring 36 which holds the circuit closer in the recess l9 ofthe handle. There is sufficient clearance between the bottom of therecess l9 and the adjacent surface of the circuit closer terminal sothat the outer edge of the flange 23 is held against the adjacent faceof the enlarged portion I8 of the handle. Since the contact rings 22 and29 are slidable in the housing the pressure of the spring 36 causes theflanges 24 and 3| to be held against the adjacent flanges and '1 of thecircuit closer terminals.

In the cover plate I and the adjacent surface of the enlarged portion l8of the handle are diametrically opposite projections and depressions 31and 38. The projections are illustrated as formed in the cover plate andthe projections as formed in the handle although it is obvious that thepositions of these parts could be reversed. The projections anddepressions are in effect hill-and-valley portions which resilientlyhold the handle in positions 180 apart. In one of these positions theopening 5 is submerged in the mercury and the circuit is completedbetween the circuit closer terminals. In the other of these positionsthe opening 5 is raised above the mercury and the circuit between thecircuit closer terminals is interrupted. When the handle is betweenthese positions the projections 31 engage the surface of the enlargedportion l8 of the handle and cause the handle, the circuit closer, andthe contact rings 22 and 28 to be moved toward the bottom of the housingl0 against the compression of the spring 36. When the handle is rotatedto a position in which the depressions 38. are opposite the projections31 the handle, the circuit closer, and the contact rings 22 and 23 aremoved toward the cover plate II by the spring 36 with a snap action.

As shown in Fig. 1 the conductors 28 and 35 are wrapped around one sideof the switch housing l0 and extended between tabs 39 on an arm 40integral with the cover plate II. The tabs 39 are bent over theconductors clamping the conductors to the arm and holding the conductorsin place.

In the use of the switch the handle I! is rotated in 180 steps movingthecircuit closer to on and off positions with a snap action as describedabove.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having anenvelope including opposed thin-walled cup-shaped terminals, outwardlyextending flanges on said terminals, means including contact ringsfitting over the hollow portions of said terminals and bearing on saidflanges for rotatably supporting the circuit closer, and means forrotating the circuit closer in said contact rings.

2. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer havingthin-walled hollow cylindrical terminals, means including contact ringsfitting over the hollow portions of said terminals for rotatablysupporting said circuit closer, and means for rotating the circuitcloser in said contact rings.

3. In an electric switch, opposed contacts, a liquid contact circuitcloser having terminals journaled in said contacts, a frame havingprovisions for supporting the contacts for axial movement therein, meansfor rotating the circuit closer relative to said contacts, andhill-andvalley means causing axial movement of the contacts forresiliently holding the circuit closer in predetermined positions.

4. In an electric switch, a frame having a sleeve, a spindle rotatablycarried in the sleeve having a handle atthe outer end of the sleeve andhavingan enlarged portion at the inner end or the sleeve, a recess insaid enlarged portion, a liquid contact circuit closer non-rotatablycar-\ ried in the recess, and means including hill-andvalley portions onsaid enlarged portion for resiliently holding the spindle inpredetermined positions.

5. man electric switch, a frame having a sleeve, a spindle rotatablycarried in the sleeve and having a handle at one end of the sleeve andan enlarged portion at the other end of the sleeve, a recess in the endof said enlarged portion, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposedterminals, one of said terminals nonrotatably fitting in said recess,and means for yieldingly holding said terminal in said recess wherebythe circuit closer is supported in th spindle.

6. In an electric switch, a frame having a sleeve, a spindle slidablyand rotatably carried in the sleeve having a handle projecting beyondthe outer end of the sleeve and an enlarged portion projecting beyondthe inner end of the sleeve, said enlarged portion bearing against anadjacent part of the frame, a recess in the end of the enlarged portion,a liquid contact circuit closer non-rotatably fitting in said recess,spring means arranged between the frame and the circuit closer forholding the circuit closer in the recess, and hill-and-valley means onthe enlarged portion of the spindle and the adjacent part of the framefor resiliently holding the spindle in predetermined positions.

'7. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer havingopposed thin-walled hollow termi-' nals, contact rings fitting over thehollow portions of the terminals, a housing having parts engaging theouter edges of the rings whereby the circuit closer is supported in therings, and means for rotating the circuit closer in the contact rings.

8. In an electric switch, a housing, contact rings slidably andnon-rotatably carried in said housing, -a liquid contact circuit closerhaving terminals journaled in said rings, a handle for rotating thecircuit closer, a spring for urging the contact rings and circuit closerin an axial direction, and hill-and-valley means resiliently held inengagement by said spring for resiliently holding the circuit closer inpredetermined positions.

9. In an electric switch, spaced contact rings, a liquid contact circuitcloser having a part between said rings and having terminals journaledin the rings, a frame in which said rings are slidably and non-rotatablycarried, means including a spring exerting a pressure along the axis ofthe circuit closer terminals for holding the contact rings and circuitcloser in assembled relation, a handle for rotating the circuit closerin the contact rings, and hill-and-valley means resiliently held inengagement by the pressure of said spring for resiliently holding thecircuit closer in predetermined positions. f

10. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer havingopposed terminals, contact rings in which the terminals are journaled, ahousing having provisions for non-rotatably supporting the contact ringsand for permitting movement of the contact rings therein along the axisof the circuit closer terminals, a spring exerting a pressure along theaxis of the circuit closer terminals for holding the circuit closer andcontact rings in assembled relation, a handle for rotating the circuitcloser in the contact rings, and hill-and-valley means resiliently heldin engagement by said spring for yieldingly holding the circuit closerin predetermined positions.

1l.- In an electric switch, spaced contacts, a liquid contact circuitcloser held between the contacts and having terminals journaled therein,spring means forholding the contacts and circuit closer'in assembledrelation, means for rotating the circuit closer in the contacts, andhilland-valley means acting against said spring means for resilientlyholding the circuit closer in predetermined positions.

12. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer havingthin-wall hollow-cylindrical terminals, means including contact ringsfitting over hollow portions of said terminals for rotatably supportingthe circuit closer, and a handle having a recess in which one of thecircuit closer terminals is non-rotatably carried for rotating thecircuit closer in said contact rings.

13. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer havingopposed thin-walled hollow cylindrical terminals and a projectingportion therebetween, contacts on each side of the projecting portion ofthe circuit closer in which the hollow portions of the terminals arerespectively journaled, and spring means for holding the contactsagainst said projecting portion whereby the circuit closer is rotatablysupported in said contacts.

14. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer havingopposed terminals, spaced contacts in which the terminals are rotatablysupported, a housing, a handle adjacent one wall of the housingnon-rotatably engaging one of said terminals, and means including aspring for holding the handle against said wall and for holding thehandle and contacts in assembled relation.

GEORGE R. BROWN.

